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Rasti Computer

Rasti Computer is a retro-futuristic clamshell laptop inspired by the iconic 1982 GRiD Compass — widely considered the first clamshell-style laptop, famously used by NASA's Space Shuttle program12. Created by hardware designer Penk Chen (penk), it repurposes a Framework Laptop 13 Mainboard, battery, WiFi module, and antenna inside a fully 3D-printed enclosure with a custom mechanical keyboard13.

The name "Rasti" is derived from the German compound word Rasterrahmen (grid + framework)1.

The project was announced on January 31, 2024 and received coverage from Ars Technica, Hackaday, Yanko Design, TechEBlog, MiniMachines, Liliputing, NeoTeo, and the Framework Community234567.

Design​

The enclosure is designed for easy printing on a 30×30 cm FDM print bed. After printing, the parts are sanded, primed, and finished with Tamiya metallic black paint (TS-40), with silver dry brushing for a beat-up metal look that evokes the GRiD Compass's magnesium case1.

The display is mounted to the chassis using MacBook Pro (A1278) hinges, giving it the distinctive half-length lid of the original Compass design1.

Bill of Materials​

ComponentDetails
MainboardFramework Laptop 13 Mainboard (11th Gen Intel Core, up to 64GB DDR4, 2× M.2 slots)1
BatteryFramework Laptop 13 Battery1
WiFiFramework WiFi Module (Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX210)1
AntennaFramework 13 Antenna Module1
DisplayWaveshare 10.4" QLED, 1600×720, multitouch1
Display connectionUSB-C hub1
KeyboardCustom Rasti64 PCB, Raspberry Pi Pico, 64× Kailh Choc V1 PG1350 switches1
Power button16mm PC power switch + Framework Mainboard Power Button Shim (by crimier)1
HingesMacBook Pro (A1278) hinges1
Case11× 3D-printed parts (STL and STEP files provided)1

Keyboard​

The Rasti features a custom 64-key staggered mechanical keyboard — a 65% layout with arrow keys, essentially a MacBook keyboard without the function row. It uses Kailh Choc V1 low-profile switches and is powered by a Raspberry Pi Pico1.

The keyboard was spun off into its own project, Rasti64, with QMK/VIA firmware support and a custom Choc-spacing keycap set (1U to 2.25U, plus a 4.75U spacebar). The keycaps are designed for SLA resin printing. The Rasti64 has 54 stars on GitHub8.

Electronics​

The Framework mainboard and battery sit at the heart of the build. Four pins from the keyboard's Raspberry Pi Pico (TP1–TP3 and VBUS) and two pins from the PC power switch are directly soldered to crimier's Framework Mainboard Power Button Shim, then connected to the mainboard. This approach is space-efficient (minimizing overall height) and frees up USB ports for other uses1.

The WiFi antenna is attached to the top cover, and the entire assembly is secured with M3 screws1.

Open Source Files​

All design files are published on GitHub under the MIT license1:

FileFormat
3D-printable case parts11× STL files in case/
Editable CADSTEP file

Build instructions are listed as "coming soon" on the repository as of February 20241.

Creator: Penk Chen​

Penk Chen (GitHub: penk) is a hardware designer and digital nomad from Taiwan, based in Tokyo. The Rasti Computer is part of a family of Framework mainboard-based projects19:

ProjectDescription
Mainboard TerminalRetro-futuristic AIO with 5" round LCD — 831 stars
Penkesu ComputerRetro handheld PC (Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W) — 2,106 stars
Rasti ComputerThis project — GRiD Compass-inspired Framework laptop
Rasti64 Keyboard64-key low-profile staggered mechanical keyboard — 54 stars
MattbookFramework 13 UMPC (collaboration with 2disbetter)
ProjectDescription
Mainboard TerminalPenk's earlier round-display Framework build
MattbookFramework 13 UMPC by 2disbetter with Penk's keyboard design
Campus ARedesigned FW13 chassis with gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard

Technical Details​

DetailValue
CreatorPenk Chen (penk)
LicenseMIT1
Stars2361
Forks21
Contributors1 (penk)1
CreatedJanuary 31, 20241
Last pushFebruary 1, 20241
Framework Community thread44859 (Feb 2024)7

Footnotes​

  1. penk/rasti.computer — GitHub ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27

  2. "Rasti Computer" is a detailed GRiD Compass tribute made from Framework innards — Ars Technica (Feb 2, 2024) ↩ ↩2

  3. Retro-Styled Rasti Laptop Packs Framework Mobo — Hackaday (Feb 2, 2024) ↩ ↩2

  4. GRiD Compass 80s computer is reborn in a retro-futuristic DIY laptop — Yanko Design (Feb 5, 2024) ↩

  5. DIY Laptop-Style Rasti Computer Boasts 3D-Printed Enclosure, Mechanical Keyboard — TechEBlog (Feb 3, 2024) ↩

  6. Rasti Computer : une réinterprétation du GRiD Compass par Penk — MiniMachines (Feb 4, 2024) ↩

  7. Rasti - Penk — Framework Community (Feb 2024) ↩ ↩2

  8. penk/rasti64 — GitHub ↩

  9. Penk's Rasti Computer is a GRiD Compass-inspired DIY laptop with a 10.4 inch screen, Framework Mainboard, and custom keyboard — Liliputing (Feb 2, 2024) ↩